In the last two Safety Talks, we discussed how to inspect your harness and lanyard. Although it is important to ensure that your harness and lanyard are in good condition before you climb onto a roof, the truth is that the best harness with the best lanyard or lifeline cannot arrest a fall if the anchorage point is inadequate.
Although the application is often challenging, it all boils down to some basic rules.
- The anchorage point must be able to support 5,000 lbs. for a single tie-off point for one individual. To put this in context, a large pickup truck or SUV weighs approximately 5000 lbs. So, if what you are using as an anchorage could not hold the suspended weight of your company truck, don’t rely on it as an anchorage point.
- The anchorage point must be easily accessible to avoid fall hazards during hook-up. So, if the anchorage is in a place that puts you at risk of a fall just to connect to it, is not a proper anchorage.
- The free-fall distance must be limited to no more than 6 feet. This means that you need to take into consideration how far you would fall before the lanyard (or self-retracting lifeline) stopped your fall.
- The anchorage point should not compromise the integrity of the lanyard or lifeline. Direct tying-off around sharp-edged structures can reduce breaking strength by 70%. Therefore, chafing pads or abrasion-resistant straps should be used around sharp-edged structures to prevent damage to lanyards or lifelines.
- The anchorage point should not create a swing fall hazard. Potentially dangerous “pendulum-like” swing falls can result when a worker moves horizontally away from a fixed anchor point and falls. The arc of the swing produces as much energy as a vertical free fall and the hazard of swinging into an obstruction becomes a major factor. Raising the height of the anchor point can reduce the angle of the arc and the force of the swing.
DISCUSS WITH YOUR CREW:
What improper anchorage points are you aware of that have been used?
Think back to various anchorage points that you have used in the past. Do they meet the 5 basic rules we just discussed?
What do you think we need to do differently so that we are always using proper anchorage points?